Super Ice Cats

Two periods done, one to go. Tensions are high on the ice tonight as the all star hockey team, the Super Ice Cats are taking on the Deluge Dogs! At the head of the Super Ice Cats team is Harrison, perhaps the greatest hockey player of all time! The crowd cheers as the third period of the game is just about to begin.

“My beloved Daphne… I’m going to dedicate this win to you… I know you’re in the crowd somewhere…” Harrison whispers.

“Hey, get your head in the game!” one of the Deluge Dogs players yells. “The game is right here, not in the sky!”

“You, you think you can beat me? I’ll have you know, nobody has EVER beaten the Super Ice Cats! We’re super for a reason!” Harrison brags.

“There’s always a first for everything!” the Deluge Dog taunts.

“Not a chance! Deluge Dogs? More like Delusional Dogs! You guys have NEVER won a game before, and now you’re here, against the undefeated Super Ice Cats! You may as well quit now!” Harrison yells.

“Wah hah hah! Prepare to get obliterated!” the Deluge Dog taunts.

The referee blows his whistle and the final period begins! The Deluge Dogs are playing a bit dirty it seems. One of them launches an attack at the Super Ice Cats using his hockey stick. One of the Super Ice Cats ends up tripping over the hockey stick and comes crashing down.

The referee catches this and blows his whistle, “BRUTUS, TAKE A FIVE MINUTE PENALTY FOR YOUR FISTICUFFS!”

“GOSH DANG IT!” Brutus yells and strikes the ice aggressively with his hockey stick before going to his penalty box.

The referee checks on the fallen Super Ice Cats member. He’s alright, just a bit embarrassed. That fall could have been really bad! Once everything is sorted, the game gets back into motion!

The Deluge Dogs manage to score a point with a well timed swing. The Super Ice Cats goalie tried his best to stop the puck from entering the goal, but it was far too late. Now, both teams are tied! The crowd cheers, some cheering for the Deluge Dogs and others cheering for the Super Ice Cats.

“Ugh, they’re gaining on us… It’s now or never!” Harrison calls to one of his teammates.

The timer is ticking down. Time is running out. If neither team can break the tie before the timer runs out, they’ll be forced to go into overtime! Harrison takes a deep breath, sliding in to intercept a pass from the Deluge Dogs.

The timer is getting closer and closer to ending! Harrison goes to swing when, all of a sudden, a red dot appears on the ice. Harrison transforms into an orange cat and chases after the dot, abandoning the puck. The other Super Ice Cats wail in disappointment, rushing to fill in for Harrison.

5…4…3…2… BOOM! Brutus is back and he hits the puck! 1… DING! The puck went in the net! The Deluge Dogs win by one point! The audience goes wild! Who doesn’t love an underdog come back story?!

“WHAT?! NO! YOU TRICKED ME!” Harrison wails, realizing what just happened. “THAT’S UNFAIR!”

“Hah! Tough luck, Harry! Looks like the Super Ice Cats are no longer undefeated!” Brutus teases.

“NO!” Harrison wails, striking the ice over and over again. “I DEMAND A REMATCH!”

“Games over, Harry. You lost this time, but there’s always next time,” the referee says, patting Harrison’s furry head.

“Who had the laser pointer?!” Harrison yowls.

“Laser pointer? Are you really going to blame your distraction on a laser pointer?” one of the Deluge Dogs asks with a laugh.

“I know what I saw!” Harrison argues.

Everyone files out of the ice rink. Harrison finds himself moping as he slowly exits the ice rink himself. He transforms back into a human, still clutching his hockey stick. Almost every hockey player in the region has a plain black hockey stick. Harrison’s hockey stick, however, has four gems inside of it.

“If I’m not the best hockey player…what even am I…?” Harrison wonders.

“Harry,” a voice calls out.

“Daphne?!” Harrison asks, whipping around.

A pretty young lady is standing there. It is Daphne, the woman whom Harrison is secretly madly in love with. He’s been meaning to tell her, but he hasn’t quite worked up the courage yet. After a blunder as massive as the one he just had out on the ice, how could she even stand to look at him?

“I came looking for you… I was in the audience, watching the game,” Daphne says.

“I’m soooo sorry! I totally blew the entire game for everyone!” Harrison cries.

“I think someone purposely sabotaged the game. Someone knew you were part cat and took that as a chance to distract you,” Daphne replies.

“I’m so mad! I’m mad at them for distracting me, but I also feel like I should have played that better than I did…” Harrison says.

“It’s okay to be angry. Anger is a normal emotion. Now, what you do out of anger is a different story. Take a deep breath, forgive yourself…” Daphne says.

“How can I forgive myself? I let my entire team down!” Harrison exclaims. “This has NEVER happened before! I’ve been the star player since they drafted me. I was the amazing prodigy. The child who could play better than any adult!”

“Everyone makes mistakes. I’ll always be here for you,” Daphne says and gives Harrison a tight hug.

“Thanks, Daphne… I-…” Harrison says, but then he stops just short of telling Daphne his true feelings about her. “You look nice today. I hope the rest of your evening is better than watching me play horribly.”

“Thanks, Harry. I did enjoy watching you play, though, even if you lost,” Daphne says and leaves.

“Gosh dang it, Harrison… She got away again… You need to man up and tell her you love her!” Harrison grumbles after Daphne is out of sight.

Silence falls and Harrison sighs. It’s dark outside and Harrison is still just lingering in an alley way. He should have gone straight home after the game. After all, the city is unsafe after dark. Unknown to Harrison, his situation was about to get way worse and Daphne would not be there to save him.